Pruning implement



(No Model.)

0.1)UN AM; PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

Patented Nov. 12, 1889 T'TOHNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAUN CY DUNHAM, OF AMBOY CENTRE, NEW YORK.

IPARUNING IMPLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,974, dated November 12, 1889.

Application filed February 1, 1889'- Serial No. 298,364. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHAUNCY DUNHAM, of Amboy Centre, in the county of Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new and .useful Improvements in Twig-Cutters, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved twigcutter adapted to be used for clipping off the extremities of twigs and branches upon which the apple-worm has deposited its larvae or eggs, and has for its object the production of a simple and effective tool which can be readily used for clipping or cutting off the said extremities of the twigs or branches; and to this end. it consists, essentially, in a stationary rod or bar provided at its upper end with a knife or other cutter rigidly secured thereto and a movable cutter pivoted to said stationary rod, with a space normally interposed between the fixed and movable knives to receive the twig or branch, a lever or handle pivoted near the lower extremity of the stationary rod, and a connecting-rod pivoted to said lever and to the movable knife and actuated to impinge the movable knife against an interposed twig, thus shearing off the same.

It furthermore consists in the detail con: struction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims. I

In describing my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved cutting-tool, the parts being in their open position and the central portion of the stationary and movable rods, being broken away. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the detached fixed knife and the upper portion of the stationary rod, illustrating the relative construction and arrangement of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a slightly-modified construction of the adjacent cutting-edges of the fixed and movable knives,wit-h the upper portion of the stationary and movable rods; and Fig. 4 is a detached View of a twig with a bunch of larvae or eggs secured thereto.

A represents the main or stationary rod or bar of my improved cutting-tool, to the upper part of which is secured the fixed cutter B, preferably-braced thereto by means of the brace or tie rod D, secured at one extremity to the knife B and at the other extremity to the stationary bar A. The upper portion of the knife B is tapered and provided on the opposite sides thereof with the separate cutting-edges b and b. Hinged to the support A, preferably upon the pin a, securing the fixed knife B, is the movable or swinging knife 0. The upper part of this knife is preferably of the same shape asthe fixed knife B, and is provided with like cuttingedges c c. The edge 0 adjacent to the edge b overlaps upon the same and is adapted to shear off any branch interposed between said edges when the knife is rocked on its pivot-pin a.

On the lower part of the stationary bar A, I provide the lever F, pivoted to the bar A at a and adapted to be swung upon said pivot. Pivoted at c to the swinging knife 0 at one side of the pivot-pina is the movable or sliding rod G, pivoted at its opposite extremity to the lever F at a point fat one side of the pivotal pin 0t. Thus it will be seen that when the lever is rocked upward the connectingbar G forces upward the oscillating knife 0, 8o impinges a twig or bran chpreviously inserted between the edge 0' of said I knife and the edge I) of the fixed knife, and cuts off the same. The undue springing of the bar G and the guiding of the same in its movement is obtained by suitable guides or straps g, secured to the fixed bar A and turned around the movable or sliding bar G, so as to form guides for the same.

I have discovered that the apple-worm deposits a bunch of larvae or eggs upon the tender twigs or branches upon trees, and in the fall-time, when the leaves have fallen from the trees, these bunches may be readily seen when one is standing on the ground. By the use of this instrument the branches supporting the bunch of larvae or eggs may be easily clipped OE and afterward collected together and burned or otherwise destroyed. It will thus be seen that by this means the multiply- 10o ing of the apple-worm is substantially prevented, and the yield of apples is greatly increased, since it is evident that the appleworm by destroying the leaves of the tree destroys the vitality thereof and prevents the growth of the apples, besides destroying the apples themselves.

This invention is very useful for the purposes named; but it will be understood that I do not limit its use to the severing of branches containing bunches of eggs, since it is apparent that the said instrument may be used for pruning trees in ,the usual manner. V

The cutting-edges c 1) 011 the outside of the knives may often be used to clip off very tender twigs or branches bystriking the same forcibly with these edges when, they are not of a size sufficient to necessitate shearing off by means of the edges 0' and b. The stationary rod and sliding rod may be readily made of wood, and the cutting-knives may be formed of the usual cutter-knives for mowing-machines, which are made in immense quantities and are procured at a small cost, thus producing at a minimum cost of expense a tool adapted to greatly increase the farmers income from his orchard by preventing the spread or multiplying of the apple-worm and consequent destruction-and waste of fruit. It will be also understood relative construction illustrated without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a pruning implement, the combination of the bar A, the knife 1-3, having the cutting-edges l) and b 011 either side of said knife, the knife C, shearing past the edge I; of the knife B, the lever F, and the connection G, hinged to the knife 0 and the lever F, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a pruning implement, the combination of he bar A, the knife B, rigidly secu red to said bar, the knife 0, pivoted to the knife 13, cutting-edgesband e on the adjacent sides of said knives, and cutting-edges b and c on the opposite sides of said knives, a lever l a connection G between the knife (J and the lever F, and guides g for said connection, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Amboy Centre, in the county of ()swego, in the State of New York, this 28th day of January, 1889.

O1 IAUNUY DUN 1AM.

\Vitnesses:

C. J. \VILLIAMs, EDWARD WI-IALEY. 

